The third of nine days of prayer and readings. On Day Three, we pray for for those who are discerning the best use of their talents
For those who are discerning the best use of their talents
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit. Amen
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked to cover them?
Isaiah 58: 6-7
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had
received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
Matthew 25: 14-18
The parable of the talents in Matthew’s gospel is the third in a series of parables dealing with the proper attitude and behaviour in the light of the coming of the Son of Man. The message in each is that responsible activity is best in this situation. The emphasis is on positive action, as opposed to fearful action, or worse still lazy inactivity. The call is to be awake, alert, vigilant, spiritually active, not asleep, or evasive. The message is no-nonsense, almost brusque, a call to do what we can with what we’ve got. We pray that we will be alive to the gifts we have and alert to the needs of the world, so that we may use our gifts, not for ourselves and our own advancement, but in the service of others. In that way, we will receive back a hundredfold.
Loving Father
your risen Son sent us out
into the world as ambassadors
for the kingdom of God;
inspire us with your Spirit
of compassion, justice and truth
to declare the Good News
to those who are poor, to work
for the relief, defence and liberation
of all who are trapped
in oppressive circumstances.
We make this our prayer
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
“For the Lord desires that the faithful laity also should extend his kingdom, the kingdom of ‘truth and life, the kingdom of holiness and grace, the kingdom of justice, love and peace’; in which creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21).”
Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 36
“I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 273
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We pray for those who have to leave their countries due to war, poverty or fear of persecution.
